ABSTRACT

Contestation of the European Union (EU) is sometimes seen as an indication of normalisation, a symptom of the EU's development into a political system. This chapter provides a picture of current levels of systemic opposition and support in a particular loyal region of the EU, in particular showing how this has been affected during the crisis period. For such a study, Southern Europe offers a particularly pertinent case. The chapter begins by going back to the pre-crisis era, examining historical trends in systemic support for the EU in Southern Europe. Next is a discussion of the way in which the crisis impacted on the region, changing the meaning of European integration in the process. This is followed by analysis of the change in South European attitudes towards the EU during the crisis period. The chapter concludes by summarising and reflecting on the findings.